The Oldschool Power Show: Free Agency Episode
Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 11:07 am
Malone: What was that?
Kemp: I'm making goat noises.
Malone: That was a sheep, but that's a discussion for a different day. Welcome to Oldschool Power, a show that analyzes the PBSL from the perspectives of two dudes who have seen it all in the league. Today we're going to talk about what we've seen during the free agency period.
Kemp: It's an exciting time in the league. Nobody's playing any games, but each team's fanbase has hope that their team is gonna turn it around. Not only can teams sign that vital missing piece to make a run at a title, but teams are motivated to make trades around this time of year.
Malone: And that's where we're going to start. The Sixers made three big trades right after Restricted Free Agency. They sent out Jonas Jerebko, Zach Lavine, DeMarre Carroll, and Marcus Thornton and got back Gary Harris, Michael Beasley, and cash considerations. As a player, Shawn, how do you feel about teams that completely change their roster around like the Sixers are doing?
Kemp: As a player it's tough. I feel for DeMarcus Cousins. When I was in Oakland I felt like we had a tight core that didn't go anywhere. But later in my career I found myself on teams that would swap players like trading cards. Now I think the Sixers upgraded their talent, because Beasley is a bad dude. But look at a team like the Wolves, who last year traded or moved on from every player on their team. They go on and win like 20 games. That sort of turnover leads to inconsistency.
Malone: I feel like you're right, but I also think that players get excited about playing for a good organization. You know this better than me, obviously, but when you walk into a practice facility and you see championship banners hanging? That means something. So yeah, maybe the team doesn't look like it did last year. But the Sixers have proven they can win in different ways, so if I get traded to the Sixers, I'm thanking my lucky stars, no matter how many teammates get traded as well.
Malone: Another trade was the Wolves and Bucks swapping Victor Oladipo and Kemba Walker. It looked to me like Milwaukee sacrificed talent for fit and finance. What do you think?
Kemp: I don't care about any checkbook except my own. I don't care if a move will save the owner millions down the line. The GM can come downstairs and talk to me about the financial aspects of a trade all he wants and I won't care. I care about winning and getting mine. Now, if you can sell me on fit? If you can promise me that Kyrie Irving and Victor Oladipo can play better together than Kyrie and Kemba did? That's my language. And I think that can happen.
Malone: I agree. Results in the win and loss column matter to me, but so does locker room chemistry. And even if Kyrie and Kemba get along outside of the court, they clearly weren't an ideal pair on the court. So yeah, I can say that the Wolves got the better of the trade talent-wise and also say the Bucks made the right move. I think it's going to benefit both teams, especially the Wolves who have a really young core full of potential.
Kemp: One last trade I wanna talk about before we talk about signings, and it's another young team with potential. The Knicks traded the 6th pick in the draft, Jordan Clarkson, along with Jared Sullinger and a future first for Wes Matthews. I thought it was a great move. You think so, Karl?
Malone: I do, but I also think age is a factor when looking at it from the player's side. Sure, Wes is 27, and that's a spring chicken compared to you and me.
Kemp: Don't talk about my age on TV, Karl.
Malone: I didn't give a number Shawn. But even though 27 is young, it's older than 19 and 21. It's a different place mentally. Wes may have kids, a family, thinking about investments and retirement.
Kemp: I should've invested rather than sell my HOF jacket online to pay my bills.
Malone: ...anyway, how is a man supposed to fit in with a group of children like that?
Kemp: It isn't easy. The older I got, the younger these kids got. And I'd be playing on a team with some rookie who said "Mr Kemp, I had a poster of you on my wall" and it really freaked me out. So yeah, I get what you're saying. But I like that Knicks team. And let's be honest, if your oldest player is 27, you're a young team, which can be pretty good.
Malone: All right, those were the offseason trades between RFA and UFA. And now let's talk about free agency. The first round was definitely the day of the max contract. The men on the TV behind us are all very rich men. Shawn, list off the dollars these dudes are pulling in.
Kemp: All right, we got Greg Monroe for 94 million over 4 years, Andrew Bogut for 111 million over 4 yeras, LaMarcus Aldridge for 112 million over 4 years, and Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gay, and Rajon Rondo all re-signed with their teams for one hundred and fifty three MILLION dollars over 5 years. Wooo! That is some change.
Malone: Yeah it really is. There's a lot of talent in that mix, but is it all max talent? To me, I look at a guy like Greg Monroe. He's played his entire career so far at our position, the power forward position.
Kemp: The BEST position.
Malone: No doubt. His best year, at age 24, he averaged 10 points and 9 rebounds per game. Shawn, what did you average per game at age 24?
Kemp: 31 and 11, AND I won MVP.
Malone: Now I'm not trying to rag on Monroe. He's a decent big with a nice skillset and room to grow. But when you see someone like this making the money he makes, it makes me a little jealous I don't play in this era. I mean, I see myself as a 5 year, 153M kind of guy. I know you do too, Shawn.
Kemp: I sure do. The contracts given out in the first round were NUTS. I get the teams that kept their point guards, because that's a position you need to win. But Monroe and Bogut -- those are the two that make me scratch my head, and it doesn't have to do with the players as much as it does with the teams.
Malone: What do you mean?
Kemp: Let me list the teams that just bought those men gold-plated hot tubs. Raptors. Hawks. Nuggets. Hornets. Cavs. Magic. Now, three of those teams are contenders. Teams that needed those players to make a run. The Cavs get a pass because there was no way they could let a player like CP3 go.
Malone: Why is he called CP3 anyway? His jersey number is 15.
Kemp: I have no idea. But the Magic and Hornets? Those teams weren't one player away before, and they're still not one player away. So throwing that sort of money at a guy who may not make a championship difference is a little strange to me.
Malone: I see that. I also see New Orleans, Cleveland, and Orlando as the cities. You have to pay me a lot of money to live in those cities. Except for New Orleans, that is like home to me.
Kemp: That's true, and if I take 94 million from the Hornets I'm setting aside 6 or 7 million for my impending move when I get traded in three weeks.
Malone: Uh...how much money do you think it takes you to move?
Kemp: I...I don't know.
Malone: Anyway, that looks like as good a place as any to call it. We've had a real fun time talking with you guys about our favorite subject in the world. We hope to do this again soon, hopefully this pilot gets picked up.
Kemp: Shoutout to Cedric Ceballos, best teammate ever.
Malone: We'll see y'all next time on Oldschool Power!
Thanks Raby. Awesome article!